Spellscribed: Conviction by Kristopher Cruz Read Free Book Online

considered the barbarians a threat enough to put not one, but three border forts, along the span of mountains on their side. Balator, for its part, ignored it. There were worse things in the frozen wastes to worry about than soldiers.
    The trip into the mountain pass was abruptly cut off several hours in by a landslide, just like Joven had predicted. Boulders the size of some houses piled up at the entrance to a large ravine, blocking off access to the rest of the pass, and cutting off their access to the ravine campsite.
    Joven dismounted and inspected the landslide, as the rest of the group milled around on horseback. It was near evening, and the ravine was the closest place to set up camp where there was space enough for the whole group. Endrance chatted with Ezeilo and his escort for a few minutes, noting that the man was visibly scared of him. The man refused to make eye contact, and only answered his questions directly and as quickly as possible before clamming up again. He found it frustrating, but the man had nearly died delivering Endrance's court summons, so he couldn't quite blame him.
    "Endrance." Joven said quietly. "Come here please."
    Endrance nodded to Ezeilo, hopped off his horse, and walked over to Joven. He pointed to the landslide. "So, what do you know?" he asked.
    Joven shook his head. "It's worse than I thought." he replied. "The landslide is exceptionally thick, I think it goes all the way back to the ramp down into the ravine.
    Endrance thought back to when they had first passed through the ravine to get into Balator.
    "That's a pretty big ravine, right?" he asked. "I don't think it would have completely filled it in."
    "It's the only ravine between the two kingdoms in these mountains, and it's big enough to fit ten thousand men." Joven said. "I don't know if it's entirely blocked."
    "Let me check that." Endrance asked.
    Gullin!  Endrance mentally called.  I need you to do a fly over and scout out the landslide and the ravine.
    Very well.  The familiar replied, taking off with a puff of weak flames in his wake.  Give me a few minutes.
    Joven looked up as the bird took off into the late afternoon sky. "You know it bothers me every time I see it doing what you want without you telling it to." he observed.
    Endrance looked up at him, puzzled. "But I am telling him what I need him to do." he protested.
    Joven shook his head. "Doesn't look like it."
    "I'm using my mind, Joven." Endrance explained. "Because of our link, we're able to communicate mentally, both in words and in images."
    Joven thought about it for a minute, watching the familiar drift farther away, reduced to a glowing red speck by the distance. "So, you also said there are impressions of the people your bracer absorbed in your head, right?"
    Endrance grimaced. "Yes." he answered.
    "And they can talk to you in your head, too, right?" Joven continued.
    Endrance nodded. "Yeah, they do that sometimes."
    Joven's face scrunched up as he thought. "So, has your familiar ever talked to them in your head?" he asked, after taking several seconds to compose his question.
    Endrance blinked. "Uhh..." he murmured.
    Have you ever talked with them?  Endrance asked.
    Gullin responded after a moment.  Talked with whom?  the bird asked.
    The impressions in my head from the bracer.  Endrance asked.
    No. You have never given them the volition to do so.  Gullin replied.  Did we not discuss this already?
    Yes we did. Sort of.  Endrance responded.  I'm just confirming it with you.
    If you do feel like doing so, I would like to speak with Anna again.  The familiar said.  I miss her.
    Endrance felt a pang in his chest, and involuntarily clutched the front of his coat as he winced.  I miss her too, Gullin.  He responded.
    "I take it that he likes them better than you?" Joven asked with a wink. Endrance shook off his momentary depression and sighed.
    "No, he just inquired after Anna, that's all." Endrance replied.
    "Ah." Joven muttered, a frown